Jayapura, Jubi – A three-member pastoral solidarity team of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), visited West Papua, heard stories of grave human rights violations and repression against the indigenous West Papuans in their own home land.

The visit, organised by the CCA from 4 to 8 December 2017, was part of its pastoral accompaniment to churches and people who live in vulnerable situations in Asia.

During four days of intensive visits and meetings, indigenous West Papuans shared with the CCA delegation about the on-going repression and systematic human rights violations in West Papua, including the passing of laws that suppress freedom of speech and freedom of association.

“Impunity for the human rights abuses by the police and the military is a growing concern; the Special Autonomy Law is a dismal failure, as it did not meet the basic needs of the indigenous people of West Papua”, described the community leaders and civil society representatives.

“The Indonesian government systematically restricts the right to freedom of the press as well as the initiatives of West Papuans who come forward to monitor human rights violations. Many indigenous West Papuans are being arrested and detained for non-violent expressions of their political opinion. The indigenous West Papuans constantly face discrimination as well as violent attacks. Peaceful demonstrations are often dispersed by force. In many instances, non-violent participants have been arrested, detained and tortured, while others have been killed. Many prisoners and human rights activists have died while in detention. Reports of torture and ill treatment of political detainees have been increasing. Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are being violated”.

“CCA’s visit to West Papua was an opportunity to express solidarity with the struggling West Papuan indigenous people and listening to their grievances on behalf of CCA’s member constituencies and the Asian ecumenical movement”, said Bishop Dr. Daniel S. Thiagarajah from Sri Lanka, a member of CCA’s programme committee.

“A long-delayed pastoral solidarity visit to Papua was an expression of Asian churches and the CCA’s commitment to the CCA’s member church Gereja Kristen Injili di Tanah Papua (GKI), and the people of West Papua,” said Rev. Cindy Huang Shin-Yi, a young pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan and a member of CCA’s Executive Committee.

The visit of the CCA delegation included meetings with members of the Papuan Parliament, the Office of the Governor of Papua, interactions with the faculty members and students of the Izaak Samuel Kijne Theological College, GKI Jayapura Presbytery, the GKI Synod Board and staff members as well as meetings with leaders of different churches and communities in Sentani.

West Papua is a land rich in gold, copper, tropical rain forest, and coral reef. However, the majority indigenous Papuans continue to suffer as their ancestral lands have been confiscated; natural resources have been exploited by non-Papuans settled through government’s transmigration policies over the years. About 80% of the indigenous Papuans, the original sons and daughters of the land, now live in poverty without access to medical care, safe drinking water or education. They are constantly under attack by security forces.

The delegation was informed that, many indigenous West Papuans and others are infected with HIV/AIDS. The delegation visited the Walihole HIV/AIDS Clinic and the GKI Women’s Center. The church responds to the epidemic by setting up an HIV/AIDS clinic that serves the people in need of care. The church plays an active role in empowering the indigenous West Papuan women.

During the meetings, the CCA delegation was told by West Papuan community leaders that international community should come forward to implore the Indonesian government to stop human rights abuses in West Papua and to respect and protect the human dignity of West Papuans; to support the appeal of West Papuans to the government of Indonesia to open the door in order to seek a just and dignified political solution and respect the right and dignity of the indigenous people of West Papua to determine their own future through an all-inclusive Papua-Indonesia national dialogue.

“Having seen and heard the stories of the dire oppression of the indigenous people in West Papua, the CCA delegation learned first-hand about the pains of the suffering indigenous West Papuan people, and we share their pain and agony”, said Dr. Rey Ty, CCA programme coordinator for Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflict. (*)

Roma, Jubi – 13 religious men and women, representing 7 religious congregations (including SSpS and SVD) gathered on 10 July at the Generalate of the Augustinians in Rome to discuss collaboration for the promotion of human rights in West Papua.

Most of the congregations are present in West Papua, working on various ministries.

They concluded that in West Papua, on the eastern end of Indonesia, the indigenous population has been suffering human rights violations in the areas of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The indigenous have low standards of health and education, for Indonesia, and experience economic marginalization and land grabbing. There is military oppression in the form of torture and killings.

The participants heard from a West Papuan religious, and an expert in the defense of human rights of West Papuan people in international level. Sr. Sheila Kinsey, the Executive co-secretary of the JPIC Commission of USG/UISG also joined and expressed the importance of networking.

After hearing from them the participants shared their thoughts about the need to be proactive as religious congregations.

The meeting acknowledged that the history of West Papua and its current situation is quite complicated and sensitive, but the desire of the congregations is very simple – to accompany the indigenous West Papuan people in the promotion of human rights.

The congregations have decided to form a network in Rome to share information, to improve networks and relationships in West Papua, particularly in health and education ministries, to raise awareness and train their members, and to network with religious NGOs.(*)

]]>https://tabloidjubi.com/eng/representatives-7-religious-congregations-discuss-west-papua-rome/feed/09368World Council of Churches support the struggle for human rights of the people of Papuahttps://tabloidjubi.com/eng/world-council-churches-support-struggle-human-rights-people-papua/
https://tabloidjubi.com/eng/world-council-churches-support-struggle-human-rights-people-papua/#respondFri, 03 Mar 2017 07:41:20 +0000http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/?p=8705

The meeting of ICP at WCC headquarters in Geneva, last month – Jubi/Victor Mambor

Jayapura, Jubi – Members of a church-backed coalition have called on Indonesia to open access to West Papua for international journalists, independent observers, human rights organizations and the International Red Cross (ICRC).

The call came at an international consultation hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) with the International Coalition on Papua on 22 February at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.
Peter Prove, director of the WCC’s Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) quoted from the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who visited West Papua in 2012 saying he was fully behind his statement after the visit.
“We support the struggle for human rights of the people of Papua. We urge an end to the ongoing violence and impunity.
“We support the call for social and economic justice through serious dialogue and a concrete political process that seeks to address root causes of the present problems,” Tveit had said.
West Papua is a province of Indonesia and the two western peninsulas of the island of New Guinea, which neighbours the Indonesian territory and has a population of less than one million people, mostly Melanesians.
The round-table gathered also civil society proponents, human rights experts and diplomats to meet with defenders explaining current patterns of human rights abuses in West Papua.
Participants at the round table also expressed civil society’s expectations for the 34th session of the Human Rights Council from 27 February to 24 March and the current Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Indonesia.
Victor Mambor of the Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights and the JUBI Association said that the Civil Society Coalition for the Enforcement of Law and Human Rights in West Papua has made a number of recommendation to the government of Indonesia.
As well as demanding open access to Papua for international journalists and human rights groups they called for ensuring “that perpetrators of the police and military responsible for past and present human rights violations in West Papua are prosecuted in public and fair trials, resulting in the appropriate sentences for perpetrators and the restitution, compensation and rehabilitation of victims”.
Rev. Dr Jochen Motte of the United Evangelical Mission in Wuppertal Germany said that, “Together with the WCC and partners in Papua in 2005 the Faith Based Network has been able to publish a study on economic, social and cultural rights in Papua.”
Rev. Francois Pihaate, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches based in Fiji, said the churches in the region are very concerned about violence in Papua.
“How can we as churches be ignorant of what is going on outside our own world? That is why we as churches are concerned,” said Pihaate.
Denny Abdi, a member of the Indonesian mission to the United Nations in Geneva also made an intervention disputing the number of people arrested, 4,996, cited by Victor Mambor.
Mambor said as his role as journalist, he had asked Indonesian President Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo to allow international journalists into West Papua but this had not been adhered to.
“There is no trust between the people of West Papua and the government in Jakarta so it is not possible to talk heart to heart about what is going on,” said a member of a churches group in West Papua who works with the WCC.
“We have to talk. As a church the prophetic voice needs to go beyond boundaries.”
Veronica Koman of the Papua Itu Kita based in Jakarta said, “The government of Indonesia fails to address the root problem, which is the historical problem. The West Papuan people will not stop screaming for independence until the root cause is addressed.”
Bartlett Salato, the chargé d’affaires of the Solomon Island mission in Geneva said that his country stands behind West Papua. (*)

Catholic church in the main town of Okoba sub-district, Merauke Regency – Supplied

Merauke, Jubi – A Catholic church in the main town of Okoba sub-district, Merauke Regency, is on the brink of crumbling due to coastal abrasion, with only two meters left, a councillor said.

“We raised this issue during a council meeting several times, but the related office paid little attention. The abrasion has occurred for years due to the huge waves,” said a councilor of Merauke Legislative Council Moses Kaibu at his office on Wednesday (12/10/2016).

Moses said he had visited the Okaba Catholic church and found it was in an alarming condition. The council, he further said, has alerted the Merauke Regional Government, but there had been no follow-up.

In fact, this church is still used for services every Sunday.

“I hope the government will take a prompt action. Do not wait until it is crumpled and later on getting surprise. The related office should take a prompt action to see the current situation in the Okaba Beach,” he said.

Another councilor Tarsisius Awi said the similar thing. “It’s right. There is a coastal abrasion in the Okaba Beach that affect the building of the Catholic Church there,” he said. The related office, he said, should take a prompt action to go to the Okaba Sub-district to see directly about the abrasion instead of waiting the report from the locals. (*/rom)

Church and Civil Society raise the Morning Star flag in Vanuatu – Jubi

By Len Garae in Port Vila

Jayapura, Jubi – A West Papuan delegation has come to a regional civil society forum with a single goal in mind – full membership for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Emele Duituturaga, executive director of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO), said this in an exclusive interview after launching the two-day forum yesterday, adding:”We hope that at the end of our forum, the meeting will endorse that and that will be our goal.”

The West Papua delegation also suggested that Indonesia should not be a member of the MSG. And so the issue of “who and what is a Melanesian” is being discussed amid reports of hundreds of Papuans being arrested in a mass Indonesian crackdown.

The theme of the forum is decolonisation.

“We see Indonesia as colonising West Papua in the same way that we are supporting the movement of Kanaky for independence [from France]. And so it is broadly self-determination and decolonisation,” she said.

The West Papuans insist that ULMWP are the rightful leaders of West Papua because of critical suggestions from some quarters that ULMWP are “external” and not representative of West Papua.

“But there is evidence [to the contrary] and this delegation here today actually came from inside West Papua and they’ve come to call for external international intervention, they’ve come to talk about the genocide that is happening in West Papua.

“We’re going to discuss what we are going to do about it,” Duituturaga said.

Special envoy

“When Vanuatu’s Special Envoy on West Papua, MP Johnny Koanapo, said West Papua was in the blood of the ni-Vanuatu when he launched our Civil Society Organisation Parallel Forum at Owen Hall at Independence Park yesterday, there was a feeling of elation, a real assurance of the leadership role that Vanuatu has been the beacon of hope, the symbol of independence (for West Papua).”

She said it was a joy for PIANGO to note that despite Vanuatu’s internal political challenges, the country’s focus on West Papua had not shifted as confirmed by MP Koanapo’s words.

The MP, who used to be director-general of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the involvement of the civil society forum on the call for West Papua to become a full member of MSG, saying the Vanuatu government also needed the support of civil society on West Papua.

Before he became MP, Koanapo was instrumental in writing the staunch speech of former Prime Minister Moana Carcasses at the UN General Assembly, condemning reports of human rights abuse against Melanesians by the Indonesian military in West Papua.

PIANGO as the umbrella organisation of 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, is at the forefront of West Papua becoming a full member of MSG, Duituturaga said.

‘Missionary report’

In addition she said there was a march and a launch of the “shadow missionary report” in Suva, Fiji yesterday, which had been conducted by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

The same report would be launched in Port Vila today.

“It was launched in Brisbane last Sunday then Fiji and now Vanuatu,” she said.

“This is in direct response to the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ decision to send a fact-finding mission to West Papua.

“But now it is heading for the middle of the year and the mission has not taken place because Indonesia has not responded.

“So civil society had committed that we would not wait for the government as this is the second report of human rights violations in West Papua and we want to bring it to the attention of our leaders.”

Jayapura, Jubi – Allegations of recent military and police intimidation, beatings and torture, kidnapping and murder in West Papua, have been documented in a new Church report.

The report documents Muslims being radicalised in the once predominantly Christian Papuan provinces, and “very active” Muslim militias that burn down Papuan houses.

The report was compiled by the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission’s Shadow Human Rights Fact Finding Mission to West Papua, following a visit to West Papua last month. It has not yet been publicly released, nor comment sought from Indonesian authorities.

The report documents religious, social and economic discrimination including how the carve up of land for major development has benefited multinationals and excluded Papuans from ownership and jobs. It refers to a slow motion genocide happening 250km north of Australia and states that “the Indonesians want to replace the Christian religion with Islam”.

The report author Josephite Sister Susan Connelly was accompanied to West Papua by Brisbane archdiocese’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission executive officer Peter Arndt. During their fact-finding mission they interviewed more than 250 community leaders in Japapura, Merauke, Timika and Sorong.

Sr Connelly, a respected human rights advocate, likened her visit to West Papua to “stepping back twenty years when I first went to East Timor”.

“The same oppressive security presence everywhere, the same suspicion, bewilderment, frustration and sadness,” she said.

“The same fear. The same seemingly groundless hope.

“A man took my hands in his and said, ‘We are in danger’. That simple statement sums up for me the experience of the whole visit.

“The Papuan people have lost so much, and are facing erasure as a people, merely preserved as oddities of the past or artifacts to be photographed for tourist brochures.

“They realise that their land is considered more valuable than they are.”

The fact-finding team heard many accounts of alleged military and police brutality and murder.

“There is clear evidence of ongoing violence, intimidation and harassment by the Indonesian security forces,” Mr Arndt said on his return to Brisbane.

“That is especially the case for Papuans expressing their support for particular political points of view.

“Authorities want to close down any Papuan efforts to promote discussion about self-determination, and they have applied a military response to deal with the irrepressible desire of a large number of Papuans to promote their cause for freedom.”

Based on his interviews across West Papua, Mr Arndt (pictured) identified the instigators of alleged human rights violations as members of the Indonesian army including Kopassus, police including a special counter insurgency unit, Detachment 88, and Indonesia’s intelligence agency, BIN.

“Even demonstrations about social issues such as access to education get broken up by authorities,” he said.

The fact-finding team heard many examples of how the Indonesian Government pushed economic development, but ignored human rights.

“The Government has carved up the land and given it for exploitation to some 50 multinational companies,” the report said.

“The procedure is that the local government invites companies to come and gives permits.

“People are usually shocked when the companies come to sign a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with them, showing them the permit and the map.

“If the villagers don’t agree to the proposal, the company goes back to the local government and returns with the police.”

In the 1970s, ethnic Papuans accounted for 96 per cent of the population. Today they are a minority 48 per cent, because of the rapid migration of Indonesians from other more populated islands such as Java.

The report found that Papuans were now marginalised economically at the expense of immigrants, the majority of whom are Muslims. The report said there was “a movement for Muslims from Indonesia to replace Papuans in every sector”.

“The Indonesians want to replace the Christian religion with Islam. Many mosques are being built everywhere. They want Papua to be a Javanese Malay nation,” the report said.

“Radicalisation is happening in Papua, with some militias very active near the border with PNG.

“They burn down the Papuan houses. They are recruited as illegal loggers. Their camps and logging are well protected by the military.

“The military are certainly killing the people, and closed access to opportunity to Papuans in all areas of life constitutes a slow motion genocide.

“The general opinion encountered was that Indonesia is a total failure regarding Papua and is just another coloniser.

“The Indonesian Government does not give opportunities to Papuan people or protect them.

“It was said that most Church leaders try to deal with the problems one by one, but the whole picture should be looked at as a series of policies designed to overcome the Papuan people.

“In every sector of government the system is composed of Indonesian tactics to destroy the Papuans.

“Beatings and torture are used, but also the economic aspects of lack of opportunity, the sidelining of the indigenous peoples, the taking over of land by companies … are part of the plan.”

Accusations in the report

– A young, wealthy businessman poisoned in 2015. He had financially supported building an office for the National Committee for West Papua, an independence-oriented group. He also funded Papuans being sent to international conferences.
– A Papuan woman activist arrested in 2015 by police for holding a prayer service in support of an international conference in London. She and her group were interrogated for five hours.
– In January this year, 27 Papuan palm oil workers were allegedly tortured by the Indonesian army’s special force Kopassus. The men had previously complained to their company bosses after they had not been paid for two months.
– A man aged 35 who used to work for Papua’s Freeport gold mine was kidnapped in 2015, killed, and his body thrown on the street. There was no sign of torture and the police told his family that it was an accident.
– Police and military broke up community activities such as prayer meetings.
– In September 2015, 18-year-old Daniel Bowgow was killed. His father was a local prayer meeting leader.
– People reported they couldn’t move freely at night to search for food for fear of being kidnapped. The military and police use Papuan informers to let them know of people’s movements.

Jayapura, Jubi – Church leaders said President Joko Widodo’s plan to visit Papua at the end of this year wouldn’t yield a positive impact on Papua, even more so if he’s only scheduled to meet with the officials just like his last visit.

The president of GIDI, Dorman Wandikbo, said if Jokowi wanted to resolve the root of problems in Papua, he shouldn’t meet with Papuan officials, but with church leaders.

“The government in Papua is cheating on them as well as those in Jakarta, they are also cheating on us. Because of this behavior, the problem would never been solved. If Jokowi wanted to know about the reality occurred in Papua, he should meet us. Poor him, he comes to Papua for the third times but only meet those certain people. It’s the same,” Dorman Wandikbo when answering the Jubi’s query at the press conference at the Kingmi Synod Office in Jayapura City on Friday (18/12/2015).

According to him, every time the president came to Papua, the church leaders who are considered being critic had never been invited. If there are religious, community and customary leaders came in the meeting, it was only selected people.

“Why? Because if we came, we would reveal what was really happening in Papua. Those who came are already been set up. It’s hard to invite us. It’s just waste of time if coming to Papua without resolution. Many interests are involved. Coming to Papua is also for certain interest. The Indonesian Government has failed to build the indigenous Papuan,” he said.

The Chairman of Kingmi Church Synod, the Rev. Benny Giay similarly said meeting with Jokowi is like throwing salts to the sea. The situation in Papua would never be changed.

“I wonder if he was able or not to understand what happens on the ground. Perhaps the problem is the information never reached him, in particular the Paniai case. We can help Jokowi if he needs data,” Giay said.

The Rev. Socratez Sofian Yoman from Papua Baptist Church said from year to year, the case in Papua would never been resolved, for example, the murder case of Papua leader, Theyis Eluay. The perpetrators got their promotion instead.

“Jokowi’s visit to Papua would resolve the problems in Papua. He needs not to come to Papua, but he needs to indicate his seriousness to resolve the problem in Papua. The State is not capable to build the indigenous Papuan,” Yoman said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

Jayapura, Jubi – Filep Karma urged a number of church institutions in Papua to pay attention to the education of Papuan children.

Educational institutions should be able to prepare the next generation with better education to face globalization.

Karma stated during the book discussion and writing seminar on Life Stories in the Hall of the College of Theology Walter Post Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua, on Monday (14/12/2015). “First, the church needs to think about the children’ education institutions,” he said seriously.

He said, many children in Papua are not getting a good education. He cited those imprisoned for criminal cases. In Papua there is no prison for children. Children are punished and sent in an adult prison.

“Secondly, the church must build a rehabilitation institution because dependence on alcohol is very high, “he said.

He added, these children can be used by others to reached their will and it will be a great danger.

Balim Council Secretary Engelbertus Surabut said the government has no attention for native Papuans, so the church must take on the role. The Church is not only preaching, but must be more seriously to build moral education of the Papuans.

“Ora et Labora “ pray and work “must be implemented in Papua. The words of love must be real, if not, the gospel will never be real, “he said. (Mawel Benny/Tina)

The General Chairman of the Communion of Baptist Churches in Papua, the Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman – Jubi

Jayapura, Jubi – The General Chairman of the Communion of Baptist Churches in Papua, the Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman for an end to injustice, discrimination and murder against Papuans perpetrated by the Indonesian government through the military and police in Papua.

“Do not kill Papuans on this land for the sake of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The murder case of four students and a citizen on 8 December 2014 in Enarotali, Paniai Regency has not yet been resolved while the perpetrators are at large,” said Yoman in a speech at the Christmas praise of the Central Service Agency (BPP) of the Communicon of Baptist Churches in Papua held in Jayapura City on Friday (04/12/2015).

The shooting perpetrator in Tolikara has not revealed, but GIDI members are undergoing the trial,” he said.

Further he said the shooting of a pastor in Mamberamo, the shooting of five civilians in Serui, the shooting of a student in Jakarta and other murders must be terminated. Because they are all human beings, the God’s creatures, nobody has right for taking their life. He also said do not kill people in the name of the Republic of Indonesia or Free Papua Movement.

“Talking about Free Papua is not prohibited by the Bible or the Baptist Church. Go ahead talking about Free Papua,” he said. “Once again, do not take human’s life as God’s creature for any kind of reasons. Stop the colonial injustice and discrimination,” he said.

The Chairman of Kingmi Church Synod in Papua, the Rev. Benny Giay reminded all Christians would celebrate Christmas 2015 in a grieve over the killing everywhere, the everlasting injustice, the death of 32 children in Nduga, the series of shooting in Serui, Paniai, Dogiyai, Tolikara and Jakarta.

“Do not fill Christmas with decorations and lights only, but decorate and lighten our hearts with interpretation that Jesus was born to safe the human’s life,” said Giay. Further he said creating peace on this land is accordance with the national Christmas theme, that is Jesus the King of Peace, Magic Advisor (Isaiah Chapter 9:1-6).

“When Christmas comes, there is always a murder in Papua. Let’s change this paradigm. We must create peace among us, Papua must be the land of peace,” he said. (Abeth You/rom)

Lokbere stated the incident shouldn’t be happened in Indonesia, which engaged with Pancasila (State’s Philosophy), particularly the first principle and the slogan Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unite in Diversity).
“We must uphold the mutual respect among the interfaith community. So why should our Christian brothers in Aceh become the victims to see their church was burned by some irresponsible people?” Lokbere told Jubi in Jayapura City on Wednesday (14/10/2015).

Further, she said the Indonesian Constitution clearly says that citizens have the right to have religion according to their faith. The burning of the house of worship is certainly violating the Indonesian Law. “I remind people for not giving a negative respect on Tolikara case, because it had been settled very well. All religious leaders have also agreed to solve this case with the kinship of the Muslim and Christian communities,” she said.

She added she is very concern about the incident happened in Aceh. Thus, she expected the Police would take a prompt action to immediately arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them in accordance to the Law. According to her, both regions (Papua and Aceh) are the regions with the Special Autonomy Law, which should be maintained without hurting the people who live there.
“I appeal to the people of Papua not to be provoked by this case. Let the Police to handle this. Do not only point at Tolikara but the similar case happened at Singkil must also get the same attention. The Police should observe this case smartly,” she said.

As reported by merdeka.com, the Indonesian Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti explained about the chronology of mass dispute in Gunung Meriah Sub-district, Aceh Singkil Region. He said the incident which caused the burning of the church and killed two residents and wounded four people as well was triggered by the demolition of houses of worships that considered have no permit.
“It connected with the case of 21 churches that have no construction permit, so the local youngsters were intended to discipline it,” Badrodin said at his official resident in Jakarta on Tuesday (13/10/2015).

Before it’s executed, Haiti said the local government and religious leaders agreed the demolition would be conducted after 19 October 2014. But, some local residents have taken prompt action by burning out a church. “It seems local residents didn’t admit acknowledge those who represent them at the meeting,” he said. (Roy Ratumakin/rom)